The West Ham manager has taken two members of Pompey’s backroom staff to Upton Park – first-team coach Paul Groves and goalkeeping coach David Coles – as well as Frederic Piquionne and Tal Ben Haim.

Grant was linked with a move for Pompey midfielder Marc Wilson earlier this week, something that infuriated Cotterill.

But Grant insists he still has Portsmouth’s interests at heart and has told Cotterill to call him if he has a problem.

“Steve needs to think about his team now and not deal with things he does not understand,” said Grant.

“I told him he can call me any time but he decided to speak through the papers.

“I think it is not proper behaviour. When I have an issue with Alex Ferguson or Arsene Wenger, I call them. I don’t think it is fair that he is saying things that are not true. There has been no bid for Marc Wilson or any other player.